Exchanges like Cboe and CME are playing a bigger role in financial markets by guaranteeing transactions across a wide swath of trading contracts on things like pork bellies and interest rates. Regulators are warning of the risk of a major default on the exchanges, while banks worry that new bitcoin contracts could expose the financial system to greater threats.

Fundstrat says investors need to have some exposure to bitcoin and its blockchain technology as a handy tool for diversification. These are the dozen equities that could propel your portfolio as bitcoin continues its gains.

The scramble by U.S. futures exchanges to win a slice of the bitcoin-trading frenzy has executives at Chicago-based exchange operator Cboe touting its new cryptocurrency contract as having advantages over a rival plan by crosstown rival CME.

In the latest look at the underlying components of the S&P 500 ordered by largest market capitalization, CBOE Holdings Incorporated has taken over the #383 spot from Arconic Inc , according to The Online Investor. Market capitalization is an important data point for investors to keep an eye on, for various reasons.